The Beta Upsilon Chapter House is a classic example of French Second Empire Architecture. It is the only example of this particular style of architecture in the city of Burlington and can be seen in various architectural publications.

The House was built in 1877 for Major-General William Wells by A.B. Fischer on a portion of land from the estate owned by Lawrence Barnes. Barnes' estate encompassed several acres of land and his home which is now Grasse Mount at UVM.

The house was designed with General Wells in mind by G.B. Croff. The bricks for the mansion were furnished by John Brown of Milton, Vermont from his kiln in Colchester. It is said that a team of Italian craftsmen were imported to design and construct the houses extensive interior woodwork. Great care was also taken in building the house's stables which now serve as Champlain College's Admissions Building. The house cost $15,000 to build.

The grand home was well suited to the man whom first occupied it. Major General William Wells is best known for his rapid climbing of the ranks during the Civil War. Wells rocketed from lieutenant to Major-General in just four years and earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery. General Wells served in the Battle of Gettsyburg, fought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania where today you can find one of the two statues erected in his honor. The other statue may be found in Burlington's own Battery Park.

General Wells was born in Waterbury, Vermont in 1837. His father was a prominent businessman in the pharmaceutical industry, into which Wells followed. After being drafted and achieving fame in the military he returned to Vermont in 1866 where he resumed in the pharmaceutical business and soon married Arahana Richardson.

In 1872 he moved the Firm to Burlington and changed the name to Wells, Richardson, and Company. General Wells' interest in business was strongly expressed all throughout his life. He was president of numerous Vermont Corporations such as the Burlington Trust Company, Burlington Gas and Light, and Champlain Transportation Company as well as heading other national corporations.

William Wells died in 1892 leaving behind the mansion to his daughter Bertha Wells and her husband. In 1889 Bertha Wells married Dr. H. Jackson who shortly became the master of the house. Dr. Jackson was an interesting character who achieved national fame and appeared on the cover of "Car and Driver" for his drive from San Francisco to New York in a Winton motor car in 1903. He made the trip on a bet that he could make it in 50 days. He lost the bet, it took him 63 days, however he showed remarkable persistence.

After Jackson died in 1956, the Alpha Epsilon Phi Soroity, which no longer exists at the University of Vermont bought the house. In 1969, Phi Gamma Delta purchased the house from them for $52,000. It is now valued at over $400,000.

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